The Cold War: A pre-emptive start Prologue Part I
Germany signed an armistice on November 11, 1918. The victors quickly ruined the German economy, or at least, France and Britain did. The United States and the neutral nations that had suffered from economic turmoil during the war wanted Germany to be a strong democratic nation that would remain friendly to France and Britain.
In 1919, the US Polar Bear expedition and the Expeditionary Force in Siberia were separated from the British and French forces on President Wilson’s orders. This was followed by a horrifying incident on June 26, 1919:
A platoon of American infantry near Celjabinsk under the command of Second Lieutenant Charles Patterson seized a village near a lake southeast of the city. The Royal Welsh Fusiliers had simultaneously driven south and were now in the process of seizing the city. The Reconnaissance company under Major Benjamin Cooper was travelling south in Rolls-Royce armored cars.
The Americans saw the British several kilometers away from them. Lieutenant Patterson ordered an American flag hoisted on site to indicate that the Americans were not going to leave their position.
The British continued going towards the village. Then, a communist platoon attacked the armored cars head first under 500 meters from the Americans. A stray round hit an American, and Patterson ordered the platoon to open fire.
All sides managed to annihilate each other in the firefight. The communists withdrew after 15 minutes. Only 6 Americans and 10 British remained. They exchanged fire for a couple of minutes then ran.
The men reported to each other’s regiments, the British to The Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the Americans to 376th Infantry Regiment.
Believing the Americans had fired first, the commander of the Fusiliers ordered fire to be opened upon the 376th at any opportunity. This led to a series of skirmishes in the Russian countryside all day. Finally, it was reported to London that “The Americans had, completely unprovoked opened fire on British forces in an attempt to secure the city of Celjabinsk for themselves”. Today the action remains controversial on both sides. Many believe the British should’ve either retreated or asked the Americans for assistance when they were attacked, while others say Patterson should’ve realised that it was a stray round.
This sparked diplomatic argument all over the world. 2 British Army divisions were dispatched to Canada, a Royal Navy taskforce anchored off the US, and a British monitor was said to have headed into the Chesapeake Bay.
France remained neutral, and attempted to stop the case. But Britain didn’t listen to her allies and war seemed only hours away.
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig saw how this could end. He hastily forged an alliance with other British senior officers, and personally travelled to Buckingham Palace with a plea to King George V to solve the crisis.
The final vote in Parliament was in the evening of June 22. Suddenly, 2 men entered the meeting. It was King George V flanked by Field Marshal Haig. A column of other officers entered the room, and the king stepped up to the podium. Not complying to the regular rules about his language, he issued orders to Parliament, cursing loudly at those who did not follow the orders. The world had been averted from certain disaster. The forces that both sides stockpiled in foreign nations were withdrawn.
King George saw the Parliament as mad and traitorous from now on. In 1922, he disbanded Parliament, replacing it with a government under his own leadership. Haig became the Head of Government, officially “Secretary of Parliament”. The Cold War had begun.
Germany signed an armistice on November 11, 1918. The victors quickly ruined the German economy, or at least, France and Britain did. The United States and the neutral nations that had suffered from economic turmoil during the war wanted Germany to be a strong democratic nation that would remain friendly to France and Britain.
In 1919, the US Polar Bear expedition and the Expeditionary Force in Siberia were separated from the British and French forces on President Wilson’s orders. This was followed by a horrifying incident on June 26, 1919:
A platoon of American infantry near Celjabinsk under the command of Second Lieutenant Charles Patterson seized a village near a lake southeast of the city. The Royal Welsh Fusiliers had simultaneously driven south and were now in the process of seizing the city. The Reconnaissance company under Major Benjamin Cooper was travelling south in Rolls-Royce armored cars.
The Americans saw the British several kilometers away from them. Lieutenant Patterson ordered an American flag hoisted on site to indicate that the Americans were not going to leave their position.
The British continued going towards the village. Then, a communist platoon attacked the armored cars head first under 500 meters from the Americans. A stray round hit an American, and Patterson ordered the platoon to open fire.
All sides managed to annihilate each other in the firefight. The communists withdrew after 15 minutes. Only 6 Americans and 10 British remained. They exchanged fire for a couple of minutes then ran.
The men reported to each other’s regiments, the British to The Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the Americans to 376th Infantry Regiment.
Believing the Americans had fired first, the commander of the Fusiliers ordered fire to be opened upon the 376th at any opportunity. This led to a series of skirmishes in the Russian countryside all day. Finally, it was reported to London that “The Americans had, completely unprovoked opened fire on British forces in an attempt to secure the city of Celjabinsk for themselves”. Today the action remains controversial on both sides. Many believe the British should’ve either retreated or asked the Americans for assistance when they were attacked, while others say Patterson should’ve realised that it was a stray round.
This sparked diplomatic argument all over the world. 2 British Army divisions were dispatched to Canada, a Royal Navy taskforce anchored off the US, and a British monitor was said to have headed into the Chesapeake Bay.
France remained neutral, and attempted to stop the case. But Britain didn’t listen to her allies and war seemed only hours away.
Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig saw how this could end. He hastily forged an alliance with other British senior officers, and personally travelled to Buckingham Palace with a plea to King George V to solve the crisis.
The final vote in Parliament was in the evening of June 22. Suddenly, 2 men entered the meeting. It was King George V flanked by Field Marshal Haig. A column of other officers entered the room, and the king stepped up to the podium. Not complying to the regular rules about his language, he issued orders to Parliament, cursing loudly at those who did not follow the orders. The world had been averted from certain disaster. The forces that both sides stockpiled in foreign nations were withdrawn.
King George saw the Parliament as mad and traitorous from now on. In 1922, he disbanded Parliament, replacing it with a government under his own leadership. Haig became the Head of Government, officially “Secretary of Parliament”. The Cold War had begun.
For now, the King has established a military government and that stands.